Companies that regularly pay dividends tend to be stable firms with strong balance sheets and stock worth owning -- especially if they consistently sustain or increase the payouts. Be aware, though, that companies cut back or suspend stock dividends altogether if faced with real trouble, such as a major financial crisis. You could start by choosing low-cost, no-load mutual funds or exchange-traded funds that focus on the stocks of dividend-paying companies. The SPDR S&P Dividend ETF draws from S&P 1500 companies that have increased their dividend payouts for at least 20 years in a row. Both the Vanguard Dividend Appreciation ETF and the Schwab U.S. Dividend Equity ETF include the stocks of companies that have paid dividends for at least ten consecutive years; they charge slightly lower annual fees than the SPDR (0.10 percent or less, compared with 0.35 percent).
If you prefer not to open an account with a broker, you'll have to invest in a mutual fund rather than an ETF. Try the Vanguard Dividend Appreciation Index Fund, which charges a low 0.20 percent annual fee.
A well-diversified investment portfolio also includes international stocks and bonds, as well as some cash. I encourage you to learn about asset allocation and consider your options beyond U.S. companies. You can find free information on the websites of the brokers Fidelity, T. Rowe Price and Vanguard. If you decide to see a financial planner, avoid any potential conflicts of interest by selecting an adviser who charges a flat fee rather than a commission.
Suze Orman is a award winning certified financial planner and author of several books including 'The Road to Wealth'. She went from being a waitress at age 30, making $400 a month, to now having her own TV show and a net worth of $30 million dollars.
Monday, February 23, 2015
Tuesday, February 17, 2015
Get rid of credit card debt
I've always advised staying away from store cards, which their insanely high interest rates. The retailer lures in with a 5 or 10 percent discount, which becomes worthless as soon as you're charged 25 percent interest on your unpaid balance.
If you have any balances, pay them immediately.
Suze Orman is a award winning certified financial planner and author of several books including 'The Road to Wealth'. She went from being a waitress at age 30, making $400 a month, to now having her own TV show and a net worth of $30 million dollars.
If you have any balances, pay them immediately.
Suze Orman is a award winning certified financial planner and author of several books including 'The Road to Wealth'. She went from being a waitress at age 30, making $400 a month, to now having her own TV show and a net worth of $30 million dollars.
Monday, February 9, 2015
Suze Orman shares a story on overcoming negativity
I’ve built a successful career around giving advice. And that very success has often made me a target of criticism. Not helpful, constructive criticism, but nasty feedback entirely disconnected from facts.
When I first encountered the blowback, I was angry and confused. Angry at how my work was being misrepresented and misconstrued. Confused by why the attacks grew in lockstep with my success.
Then I learned to be an elephant.
A wise teacher from India shared this insight: The elephant keeps walking as the dogs keep barking.
The sad fact is that we all have to navigate our way around the dogs in our career: external critics, competitors, horrible bosses, or colleagues who undermine. Based on my experience, I would advise you to prepare for the yapping to increase along with your success.
You can’t tame the barking dogs. But you have it within your power to completely tune them out. By being an elephant that keeps walking while the dogs are barking.
Channeling your inner elephant is a healthy exercise in being focused on who you are and what you believe in, rather than letting others do the defining. The only thing that matters is what you know to be true about your goals and intentions. Everything else is noise.
While the world would definitely be a better place without vindictive and misinformed dogs, I have learned to make peace with their existence. And used it to my advantage. Being an elephant has made me stronger and more resolute, and helped me become even more compassionate. It delights me to turn the dogs’ vitriol into my virtue.
Suze Orman is a award winning certified financial planner and author of several books including 'The Road to Wealth'. She went from being a waitress at age 30, making $400 a month, to now having her own TV show and a net worth of $30 million dollars.
When I first encountered the blowback, I was angry and confused. Angry at how my work was being misrepresented and misconstrued. Confused by why the attacks grew in lockstep with my success.
Then I learned to be an elephant.
A wise teacher from India shared this insight: The elephant keeps walking as the dogs keep barking.
The sad fact is that we all have to navigate our way around the dogs in our career: external critics, competitors, horrible bosses, or colleagues who undermine. Based on my experience, I would advise you to prepare for the yapping to increase along with your success.
You can’t tame the barking dogs. But you have it within your power to completely tune them out. By being an elephant that keeps walking while the dogs are barking.
Channeling your inner elephant is a healthy exercise in being focused on who you are and what you believe in, rather than letting others do the defining. The only thing that matters is what you know to be true about your goals and intentions. Everything else is noise.
While the world would definitely be a better place without vindictive and misinformed dogs, I have learned to make peace with their existence. And used it to my advantage. Being an elephant has made me stronger and more resolute, and helped me become even more compassionate. It delights me to turn the dogs’ vitriol into my virtue.
Suze Orman is a award winning certified financial planner and author of several books including 'The Road to Wealth'. She went from being a waitress at age 30, making $400 a month, to now having her own TV show and a net worth of $30 million dollars.
Suze Orman on co-signing a loan
I couldn't be more against the idea of co-signing a loan because when you do, you become the one responsible for that loan. Most of the time when you are asked to co-sign, it’s because the other person can’t qualify on their own. If they can’t qualify on their own, you’re going to get stuck.
Suze Orman is a award winning certified financial planner and author of several books including 'The Road to Wealth'. She went from being a waitress at age 30, making $400 a month, to now having her own TV show and a net worth of $30 million dollars.
Monday, February 2, 2015
How to know if you are financially prepared to have a baby
So let’s pretend you have already had a baby to see if you can afford to quit your job. Take 100 percent of the mom's salary and put it in the bank. Then take $1,300-$1,500 a month from the dad's salary and put that in the bank.
If you can make it on what's left over from the father's salary, you know you can afford a baby without the mom having to return to work.
Suze Orman is a award winning certified financial planner and author of several books including 'The Road to Wealth'. She went from being a waitress at age 30, making $400 a month, to now having her own TV show and a net worth of $30 million dollars.
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